A winning sauce

Buying Keejay’s Goldfish Curry Sauce landed Aldo’s owner Jim Dorans a surprise trip to London 

When Jim Dorans started working in a chip shop as a weekend job in his teens, he had no idea it would become his lifelong career. Fast forward to today, and Jim is the proud owner of Aldo’s in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, which he runs with his partner Jemma. Recently, Jim was announced as the winner of a competition run by Keejays, the makers of the popular Goldfish Curry Sauce – a product he has used for years.

“I was really surprised when I found out I’d won,” says Jim. “I didn’t even realise I’d been entered into a competition! But yeah, it was brilliant – we had a two-night stay at the Tower Bridge Hotel in London and a meal. It was a proper break, especially with three kids at home!”

Jim took over his current shop three years ago after receiving a phone call out of the blue. “Someone I knew had bought the shop, but things weren’t working out. I got the call, and within about three weeks it was all done.”

Though business was initially slow, Jim’s experience in the industry helped turn things around. “I’ve always followed a kind of fail-safe supplier list handed down by one of my old bosses,” he says. “He said stick with the good names and you’ll do alright. That’s what I’ve done and it’s worked.”

However, one important name missing from the list was Keejays. “I’d been using Keejays Goldfish Curry Sauce for years and knew there was nothing better, so brought it with me here,” explains Jim. “It’s so easy to teach staff to make, you just mix it with water, you really can’t go wrong with it. It tastes great and it’s consistent too.”

Offering a generous profit margin while being an affordable add-on makes Goldfish Curry Sauce popular with both Jim and his customers. “Everyone loves it, especially the kids. They want curry sauce on everything – fritter roll and curry, pizza and curry, chips and curry – so it’s an add-on each time.”

As well as adapting his menu, Jim’s also embraced modern technology, using delivery apps like Just Eat and Foodhub to extend his reach. “We have selected a delivery radius of three miles and it really helps bring in orders from the connecting towns.”

Always looking to move with the market, Aldo’s has introduced a smaller lunchtime menu that is priced slightly cheaper and geared towards local school children, university students and workers. A favourite is pizza crunch – deep fried pizza. Next Jim is exploring adding fried chicken to his menu. “It’s something different,” he says. “There aren’t many fish and chip shops around here that are pushing it. It’s going to be homemade so rather than buying frozen we’re going to get in some fresh chicken and just offer something different.”

Winning the Keejays competition through wholesaler Henry Colbeck was a welcome surprise and a great perk of using Goldfish Curry Sauce. Asked if he would recommend it to others, Jim said: “Absolutely. It’s a good quality product that never lets us down.”

Keejays 01473 827304 https://www.goldfishbrandsauces.com